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Overview

East End Villa Rental Photos and Description

A short 2+ hour non-stop flight from Miami takes you to the largest U.S. owned island in the Caribbean, St. Croix (aka Santa Cruz from Christopher Columbus days). Driving 20 minutes east from the airport through the Danish town of Christiansted, you begin to wind up the paved road to the top of Seven Hills, overlooking the azure Caribbean Sea and Christiansted Harbour, to the Villa’s glass & wrought iron gates.

This SECURE, GATED, 2 acre PRIVATE ESTATE is your home away from home, with all the amenities of Broadband WiFi; 3 Satellite DISH TVs; fully equipped kitchen, including gas stove and a stocked bar. It’s the perfect place to relax & rejuvenate! BUT, if you must work or stay in touch with the outside world, set up your laptop on the table in the open Gazebo, alongside the pool. It too has a wet bar and small fridge. The WiFi printer/copier is in the small bedroom, so you can be in touch with the outside world if you have to. (Many Hedge Funds operate out of St Croix because of its connectivity.)

The Great Chefs Villa is only 5 minutes down the hill to 4 beaches (the Buccaneer, Shoy’s, Green Turtle Cay, and Chenay Bay), an 18-hole golf course and a marina for deep sea fishing & scuba diving around the Buck Island National Park, and 10 minutes away from Seaside Food & Wine store and Gallows Bay. Over a half dozen, quality restaurants also sit within that area as well, including Cheeseburgers in Paradise.

Villa des Great Chefs is the getaway where many Great Chefs like Frank Brigtsen, Daniel Bonnot, Dick Brennan, Willy Coln, Jamie Shannon and Allen Susser, have gotten away from their hectic lifestyle to unwind. Now you can too!

About John Shoup

John Shoup was a record & television producer back in the 60's & 70's. In the early 80's, he co-founded the Great Chefs TV series for PBS and later, on the Discovery Channel for another 20 years.

One day they were shooting Richard Branson's chef on Necker Island, and then chartered a seaplane to St Croix where they were scheduled to shoot 3 more chefs. Shoup had not done his research on STX, but when they arrived at the Christiansted dock, Customs would not allow them to go ashore until cleared. The GM of the Kings Alley Hotel on the Boardwalk, Andy Chapman, an old friend of Shoup's from Houston, arrived with martini's for the crew while they waited for customs to show up. He asked Chapman what country owned St Croix and when he found out the United States did, he asked him to locate a realtor.

Within an hour, Jean Ferry, who at the time owned Pivar Realty, showed up & Shoup ended up renting a property above the yacht club. The next year he rented another property east of there in Grapetree, near the most eastern part of the US, but it was too dry and like a desert, so he ended up moving closer to Christiansted, up in the Seven Hills.

After purchasing several acres around the property, he renamed the estate "Villa des Great Chefs", a villa that feels like a home away from home, and it is his home, as well as to many of his friends, who are international chefs & entertainers. Because of it's quiet privacy, closeness to the beaches, and restaurants in downtown Christiansted, they know they can unwind and not feel like they are in a resort where everyone wants their autograph. It is the BEST location on the island says Shoup, even after living there for eighteen years when he is not at his New Orleans home.

John Shoup purchased this villa in 1998

Why John Shoup chose USVI/St. Croix

Villa des Great Chefs is located midway between downtown Christiansted and the Eastern most point of the United States, which is very dry, almost like a desert. It is situated in a spot on the island, where the rain clouds begin and then go down island to the western part of the island where it becomes a rain forest, so, from a weather standpoint, it is the best part of the island. Lush, with double rainbows and gentle breezes. It is located high atop one of the Seven Hills, and considered one of the safest parts of the island, including gated communities like Shoys @ the Bucaneer. It has it's own steel fence and automatic glass & steel driveway gates, at the end of a dead end road, that celebrities demand.

What makes this villa unique

It's a television producers home, not a rental property. Every detail is attended to,

and makes its guests feel more like they are in their second home. The bar, refrigerator and pantry are all restocked regularly. Most caribbean properties only have a building and an outdoor deck with pool. Look at all the photos. But how many have a covered Gazebo, with a ceiling fan, table and chairs, refrigerator and sink with running water and a view to die for? Oh yes, don't forget about "Oscar" , the bronze turtle fountain that feeds the pool with a stream of water from 7am to 7pm.

Wonderful!4.8/5 -

(6 traveler reviews)

Wonderful Villa

I have been to St Croix many times over the past 20 years. I found Great chef and had local friends check out this location decided to rent for 6 weeks. What a fabulous choice. The location and setting is breathtaking with awesome view of the ocean a Christiansted from the terrace. Villa was fully equipped with 1st rate kitchen, BBQ, pool, Cable TV and Wi-Fi etc. It was close to beaches, Golf and many top flight Restaurants. Personally, eating out every night on the Villa terrace was the best option as no restaurant could match that view. The owner was easy to work with and ready to answer any problem that would arise. This was the best property that I have been to on the Island period! I would highly recommend it

Relaxing stay in St. Croix

We stayed at this great villa with a fabulous view over Christmas week. It's the first time we rented a home and didn't book a vacation at a resort. While nothing is walking distance, the beaches and restaurants are about 10-20 minutes away. The house had everything we needed for the week and it was great preparing some dinner and having the kitchen, so that we didn't have to dine out three times a day. We enjoyed a couple of days in the pool, resting on the deck, and enjoying the gorgeous view (rainbows included!) I would recommend this home to families with older children (because of the pool).

Family Getaway!

My husband and I and my two adult kids and their spouses spent a week at Villa des Great Chefs. The view is amazing, the house was comfortable, very private and nice and quiet. There was a problem with one of the air conditioning units and the owner replaced it within 24 hours of being notified which was impressive. We did manage to find a number of great restaurants on the island, but also enjoyed a few meals at home as well. We spent a fair amount of time at the Buccaneer which is just down the street. They have a nice spa, and two great beaches that you could pay a day fee to use. We have been to most of the islands in the Caribbean and St. Croix would not be in our top 5, but none the less, we did have a great week.

Honeymoon in Paradise!

My wife and I traveled to Villa des Great Chefs for our honeymoon in January 2015. The Villa had everything we could have asked for and more! The view from the pool and patio was absolutely beautiful! An added bonus is that the Villa is less than 5 minutes from most of the major restaurants and shops in downtown Christiansted!

We tell everyone about the great experience we had at the Villa des Great Chefs! We can't wait to go back and would recommend the Villa over any of the resorts on the island!

Honeymoon in Paradise!

My wife and I traveled to Villa des Great Chefs for our honeymoon in January 2015. The Villa had everything we could have asked for and more! The view from the pool and patio was absolutely beautiful! An added bonus is that the Villa is less than 5 minutes from most of the major restaurants and shops in downtown Christiansted!

We tell everyone about the great experience we had at the Villa des Great Chefs! We can't wait to go back and would recommend the Villa over any of the resorts on the island!

Honeymoon in Paradise!

My wife and I traveled to Villa des Great Chefs for our honeymoon in January 2015. The Villa had everything we could have asked for and more! The view from the pool and patio was absolutely beautiful! An added bonus is that the Villa is less than 5 minutes from most of the major restaurants and shops in downtown Christiansted!

We tell everyone about the great experience we had at the Villa des Great Chefs! We can't wait to go back and would recommend the Villa over any of the resorts on the island!

Located on the East End of St. Croix. Private and secluded yet just 10-12 minutes to the beaches, restaurants and bars. Just 15 minutes from town where there is shopping, dining, boardwalk, excursion boat rentals for 1/2 day or full day cruises to Buck Island for diving and snorkeling. There is an excellent grocery store just 15 minutes away, with everything you'll need for your stay, including a large selection of wines, a deli and prepared foods to go. The Galleon is an excellent restaurant nearby, and Cheeseburger's is out go-to spot for a quick beer and burger. Both are only about 5-6 minutes away!

Additional information about rental rates

Refundable damage deposit

$500

Tax Rate

12.5%

OUR PAYMENT AND CANCELLATION POLICIES: Half of your rent is due within 10 days of booking to confirm your reservation. Failure to make this payment subjects your reservation to automatic cancellation without notice to you. The balance due of rent, Government Hotel Tax, and refundable damage deposit must be paid in full at least 45 days prior to your arrival. All cancellations and any request for changes to your reservation (such as date changes or changes in the number of persons) must be made IN WRITING, and sent to us by email or fax. If you cancel more than 45 days prior to your arrival date, 80 per cent of your total deposit (the 'deposit' is one-half the total gross rent due) will be refunded to you and 20 per cent of your total deposit will be retained by Villa des Great Chefs as full liquidated damages. If you cancel within 45 days of your arrival date, Villa des Great Chefs will retain 100 per cent of your total rent as full liquidated damages. However, if your cancelled dates are re-booked to another guest, 80 per cent of your rent will be returned to you for the nights re-booked, and 20 per cent of your total rent will be retained by Villa des Great Chefs as full liquidated damages. In some cases, you may be allowed to re-book your villa at a later date, without penalty to you.

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